So we've taken all the timing apart and have re-assembled it, we set the 3.0 to TDC before removing the gears and chain, and set the 3.5 to TDC as well....now we took the 3.5 chains off, put the 3.0 timing components on, and the markings dont line up on the 3.0 gears and chain anymore... Are the markings on the chain and the gear supposed to be lining up the same way they were on the 3.0?? We've put the main chain back but they dont seem to line up!!?? DID I do something wrong?? PLEASE HELP.

 

Look at the pics I posted of doing the timing on the 3.5 with 3.0 timing equipment (In the other thread you started). The timing should be set like the 3.0, so you will have the turn the cams a bit but don't move the crank.

 

So it wont mess anything up by just moving one side of the3 camshaftS? The right side aligns....and the crankshaft is slightly off..... but the left side is completely off.

 

So i've done what people have suggested I do.... I positioned each camshaft in its TDC position: cylinder 1 / \ and read on another thread that cylinder 4is also supposed to be like / \, which I ended up doing.
I also positioned the crankshaft at TDC.

Now, when I do that, the chains dont line up.... I have both cam gear arrows facing 10' o clock! I know cylinder 1's gear is supposed to be at 10 o'clock and cylinder 4 at 2 o' clock. I dont see how they're going to match up.
Does it matter that its an 04 engine!? I wouldnt see why it would.

So I checked the FSM on the 04's and it says to face each point at 10 and 2.... when I do, cylinder 4's camshaft is like this \ / and cylinder one is / \..... and all links are macthed up correctly.

Am I doing something wrong??

 

First of all:

1 3 5
2 4 6 is the cylinder configuration.

Secondly, ignore that camshaft lobes facing each other crap. It's causing unnecessary confusion.


Here's what's important. The arrows on the cam gears should be in-line with their respective cylinder banks. The key (raised portion) on the crankshaft should be in-line with the rear cylinder bank. When that's taken care of, line up the darker links with the arrows on the main gears, and align the notch on the crankshaft gear with the lighter link. Done.

 

thats it!? If thats the case, then theres no real way of messing it up so long as the colored links line up to the gears and are facing the right banks right!? I was turning the cams individually to have it face / \ and \ /.... and it would never line up... and I did notice that there was only one way of having the gears face at 10 and 2.

I spent all day trying to figure out this timing set up.... and of course, a few beer breaks

So the final verdict of the timing---> line up the colored links with the marked notches and have the rear bank point towards the back, the front bank to the front, and the crank key towards the rear bank!?

 

Yes.



I should also mention that the Haynes manual and FSM outline this process to eliminate this kind of confusion.

 

damn this info needs to be stickied.

 

Forgot to mention make sure the chain is tight, meaning no slack, when the marks and links are line up. If there is something your timing will be off because this is what happened to me the first time.

 

^^ Well if the slack is on the wrong side you can't really line it up properly in the first place.

 

I had to undo the rear bank's gear and slightly turn the crank in order for it all to line up. So now i've lined it all up!!

Thanks everyone for helping me out!! Much apreciated!!